Lagerstroemia plant named ‘CS2012-12’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Lagerstroemia  hybrid plant named ‘CS2012-12’ that is characterized by its upright, well-branched plant habit, its foliage that is a blend of bronze and green in color, its flowers that are pinkish lavender in color, its continuous flowering from mid-June to November in Texas, and its resistance to powdery mildew and leaf spot.

Botanical classification: Lagerstroemia hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘CS2012-12’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofLagerstroemia of hybrid origin. The new Lagerstroemia will hereafter bereferred to by its cultivar name, ‘CS2012-12’. ‘CS2012-12’ is a newcultivar of crape myrtle grown for use as an ornamental landscape plant.

The new cultivar of Lagerstroemia is the result of a controlled breedingprogram conducted by the Inventor in Grande Saline, Tex. The objectiveof the breeding program is the develop new cultivars of crape myrtlethat are disease resistant, have dark foliage, have unique flowers thatbloom for an extended time, and that are well-branched with an uprightplant habit.

‘CS2012-12’ originated as a seedling that arose from seeds pooled andsown from open pollination of numerous dark foliaged Lagerstroemiaplants in the Inventor's breeding (all not patented) program in 2013.The parents are unknown. ‘CS2012-12’ was selected as a single uniqueplant in 2014 from amongst the resulting seedlings.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by theInventor using stem cuttings in June of 2014 in Grand Saline, Tex.Asexual propagation by stem cuttings has determined that thecharacteristics of the new cultivar are stable and are reproduced trueto type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combinationdistinguish ‘CS2012-12’ as a unique cultivar of Lagerstroemia.

-   -   1. ‘CS2012-12’ exhibits an upright, well-branched plant habit.    -   2. ‘CS2012-12’ exhibits foliage that is bronze-green in color.    -   3. ‘CS2012-12’ exhibits flowers that are pinkish lavender in        color.    -   4. ‘CS2012-12’ exhibits continuous flowering from mid-June to        November in Texas.    -   5. ‘CS2012-12’ exhibits resistance to powdery mildew (Erysiphe        lagerstoemia) and leaf spot (Cercospora lythracearum).        ‘CS2012-12’ can be most closely compared to Lagerstroemia        ‘Apalachee’ (not patented) and Lagerstroemia indica ‘Potomac’        (not patented). ‘Apalachee’ is similar to ‘CS2012-12’ in having        flowers that are lavender in color and in having an upright        habit. ‘Apalachee’ differs from ‘CS2012-12’ in having leaves        that are dark green in color, in having a later starting and        shorter lasting bloom period, and in being more susceptible to        leaf spot. ‘Potomac’ is similar to ‘Lavender Lace in having an        upright growth habit and light grey-brown bark. ‘Potomac’        differs from ‘CS2012-12’ in having flowers that are less pink in        color, in having leaves that are less bronze in color, in having        a later starting and shorter lasting bloom period, and in being        more susceptible to leaf spot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceand distinct characteristics of the new Lagerstroemia. The photographswere taken of plants eight months in age (from a liner) as grownoutdoors in three-gallon containers in Grand Saline, Tex.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a side view of ‘CS2012-12’ in bloom.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of an inflorescence of‘CS2012-12’.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a view of field of blooming plants of‘CS2012-12’.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with the digitalphotography techniques available, the color values cited in the detailedbotanical description accurately describe the colors of the newLagerstroemia.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of plants ten months in age(from a rooted cutting) as grown outdoors in one-gallon containers inGrand Saline, Tex. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary withvariations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as ithas not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. Thecolor determination is in accordance with The 2007 R.H.S. Colour Chartof The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except wheregeneral color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:    -   -   Blooming period.—Mid-June to November in Texas.        -   Plant type.—Perennial shrub.        -   Plant habit.—Upright, well-branched.        -   Height and spread.—An average of 50 cm in height and 23 cm            in width as grown in a one-gallon container, an average of            3.7 m in height and 3 m in spread as grown in the landscape.        -   Hardiness.—At least to U.S.D.A. Zone 6.        -   Diseases and pests.—Resistance to powdery mildew (Erysiphe            lagerstoemia) and leaf spot (Cercospora lythracearum) has            been observed.        -   Root description.—Fibrous and fine.        -   Root development.—An average of 2 weeks for root initiation            and about 5 weeks to produce a young rooted plant.        -   Propagation.—Stem cuttings.        -   Growth rate.—Vigorous.-   Stem description:    -   -   Shape.—Quadrangulate with slight wings.        -   Stem color.—187B.        -   Stem size.—Main lateral branches; an average of 48 cm in            length and 3 mm in diameter, secondary branches; average of            10 cm in length and 2 mm in width.        -   Stem surface.—Slightly pubescent.        -   Stem strength.—Strong.        -   Branching.—An average of 4 lateral branches with 2 to 3            secondary branches.        -   Internode size.—An average of 2.2 cm.        -   Stem fragrance.—Fragrance typical for Lagerstroemia detected            when touched (musty).-   Foliage description:    -   -   Leaf shape.—Elliptic.        -   Leaf division.—Single.        -   Leaf base.—Cuneate.        -   Leaf apex.—Acute to slightly acuminate.        -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, color mid rib; upper surface 183B            and lower surface 179C, other veins primarily match leaf            coloration.        -   Leaf margins.—Entire, slightly undulate.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite to nearly opposite.        -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Leaf surface.—Both surfaces moderately covered with glands,            minute in size, and colored the same as the leaf surface.        -   Leaf size.—An average of 4.6 cm in length and 2 cm in width.        -   Leaf quantity.—An average of 22 (11 pairs) per branch 33 cm            in length.        -   Leaf color.—Young and mature leaves upper surface; a blend            of 147A and 187A, young mature leaves lower surface; 144B,            mature growth upper surface; a blend of 137A and 187B.        -   Leaf fragrance.—Fragrance typical for Lagerstroemia detected            when touched.        -   Petioles.—An average of 1 mm in length and width and 187B in            color, surface texture glabrous.-   Flower description:    -   -   Inflorescence type.—Two to three flowers at upper nodes with            terminal corymb.        -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—About one week.        -   Inflorescence size.—An average of 9 cm in height and 6 cm in            width including flowers at nodes.        -   Inflorescence number.—An average of 1 per lateral stem, with            occasional lower branch with 2-flowers.        -   Flower number.—An average of 18 flowers per inflorescence.        -   Flower fragrance.—Mild sweet scent.        -   Flower buds.—Flattened globular in shape, an average of 8 mm            in diameter and 7 mm in depth, surface; satiny, color; 174C            with margins on immature sepals 174A.        -   Flower aspect.—Upright to outward.        -   Flower type.—Rotate.        -   Flower size.—An average of 4 cm in diameter and 1.5 cm in            depth.        -   Petals.—An average of 6, ovate in shape, strongly undulate            crenate margins, stalked base (attached between sepals),            rounded apex, both surfaces glabrous and dull, an average of            1.7 cm in length and 1.2 cm in width (stalk portion is about            4 mm in length and <1 mm in width), color when opening and            when fully open upper and lower surface; a blend of 70A and            70B with stalk 64A, petal color does not fade.        -   Calyx.—Campanulate in shape, an average of 7 mm in length            and 1.1 cm in diameter.        -   Sepals.—An average of 6, fused at base with tips spreading            outward, elliptic in shape, entire margins, acuminate-acute            apex to tips, both surfaces smooth and dull, an average of 7            mm in length and 3 mm in width (free apex portion is 3 mm in            length and width), color; upper and lower surface when            opening and when fully open is 161A and suffused with 174A.        -   Peduncles.—Strong, an average of 1.3 cm in length and 1.5 mm            in width, 174A in color, surface is slightly glossy,            terminal peduncles held at an average angle of 0° to the            lateral branch, secondary peduncles and those at lower nodes            are held at an average angle of 45° to the lateral branch.        -   Pedicels.—Strong, an average of 9 mm in length and 1 mm in            width, 161A and suffused with 174A, held at an average angle            of 45° to peduncle.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Average of 22, anther; an average of 1.5 mm in            length, dorsifixed, oblong in shape, 147A in color,            filament; an average of 7 mm in length and 157C in color,            pollen is abundant in quantity and 15A in color.        -   Pistils.—An average of 1, an average of 1.6 cm in length,            style; an average of 1.5 cm in length and 179A in color,            stigma is club-shaped, 1 mm in length and 147A in color,            ovary is globose in shape, 2 mm in diameter and 160B in            color.        -   Seed and fruit.—None observed to date.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Lagerstroemia plantnamed ‘CS2012-12’ as herein illustrated and described.